True Jackson, VP


True Jackson, VP is an American teen sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon from November 8, 2008, to August 20, 2011. The series starred Keke Palmer, Ashley Argota, Matt Shively, Danielle Bisutti, Greg Proops, Robbie Amell, and Ron Butler. The theme song was written by Toby Gad and Keke Palmer and is performed by Palmer. The series was shot in front of a live studio audience. The pilot episode garnered 4.8 million viewers on its first airing and set network records among kids 6–11, tweens 9–14 and several other demographics, airing after the iCarly three-part episode "iGo to Japan". On May 5, 2009, Nickelodeon renewed the show for a second season of 34 episodes, which premiered on November 14, 2009. This season was later split, making a third season.
In August 2011, Keke Palmer posted a video on her YouTube account and posted on her blog, confirming that "Mystery in Peru" is the series' finale. After the show ended, Keke Palmer renewed her contract with the network; she did voiceover work for Nickelodeon's Winx Club and starred in the Nick TV movie Rags.

Premise

15-year-old True Jackson is selling sandwiches and lemonade with her friend Ryan in the fashion district of New York City, when she is complimented by fashion designer Max Madigan, founder and CEO of Mad Style. Max realizes the clothes True is wearing are his designs, but True had altered them to suit her own purposes. Max likes the altered design and hires True to be the VP of his fashion company's youth apparel division. True hires her best friend Lulu to be her assistant after firing Cricket, her former assistant who was upset and bitter about being surpassed in the business world by a kid. With Lulu's and Ryan's help, True works to be the best she can be despite various obstacles such as her self-centered co-worker Amanda, who is less than enthusiastic to be working with a teenager, but the truth is that she is jealous of True because of how Max pays more attention to True than he does to her. True sees Amanda as an amazing icon in fashion and eventually Amanda recognizes True as a fashion equal, though she still taunts True playfully on a regular basis.

Episodes

Cast

Main

The series was shot on stage 25 at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. This is the same stage where series "The Lucy Show", "Here's Lucy", "Cheers", and "Frasier" were shot.

Broadcast

It aired on The N from November 2008 - August 2013.
The series has aired on-and-off on TeenNick in the United States since 2009. BET also briefly aired episodes of the series in 2009.
The show also premiered on the Canadian network YTV on March 5, 2009 and every Thursday since, but was changed to Friday to accommodate with iCarly & Big Fun Fridays. Then, the show moved again to Mondays at 6:30pm. As of 2010, the series no longer airs on YTV.
The series continues to air regularly on Nickelodeon networks around the world. The show ended in Australia and New Zealand on December 17, 2011. The last two remaining episodes premiered in the UK on Wednesday January 4, 2012 and Thursday January 5, 2012 and with "Mystery in Peru" premiering on Friday January 6, 2012.
The series is currently shown in Jamaica on one of the national stations TVJ at 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
On May 1, 2019, the series began airing on Nick Pluto.

Home media

True Jackson, VP: Season 1, Vol. 1 was released in a 2 disc set on September 8, 2009. Running time is 321 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English stereo audio. The set also includes behind-the-scenes, cast member's screen tests, bloopers and the first 13 episodes of season 1. Even though there is Season 1 Volume 1, for unknown reasons, a Volume 2 was never released.

Merchandise and in other media

Clothing line

In August 2009, a line of clothing inspired by the show called "Mad Style by True Jackson" was released. The line was available exclusively at Walmart and is aimed at children and teens. This was the first line of clothing for the show and was a first for Nickelodeon releasing a line of clothing from one of their television shows. Commercials advertising the clothing line can be seen on Nickelodeon and TeenNick. Featured in the show and commercials is an instrumental version of the show's theme song.

Book series

A set of novels based on the show were released, via Amazon.